A Social Political Group in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area Evo Assembly has called on the Federal Government and Security Agencies to allow the Rivers State Neighborhood Safety Corps begin full operation. The group, in a statement released by her President General Peter Chinwo, called on the stakeholders that are opposing the operation of the Neighborhood Safety Corps to rethink their decision. He said members of the Corps will be able to provide the information needed for security agencies to tackle cultism and other crimes.
An elder state man of Elelenwo community has called for the introduction of community policing in Rivers State. He said that the police and other security agencies cannot cub the current security challenges without the involvement of the communities.
“When you look at what is happening in Rivers State, it calls for the concern of everybody. Business is no longer effective. I think it would be productive if the reintroduction of the Neighborhood Watch will come to play. But there is a clause. If they want to do that, I think the recruitment system should cut across both Indigene and non-indigene, resident in a particular community. If it’s handled like that, it would be very effective. We should work together with government to achieve this, so that everybody in Rivers state can live in peace” he stated.
Still on insecurity, the immediate past chief security officer of Rumugi in Emuoha Local Government Area Aniele Ogbo has blamed stake holders especially traditional rulers in the area for the recent killings. Mr Ogbo said stakeholders have failed to work with security agencies to give them useful information on how to curtail the activities of cultist in their communities. He said the Divisional Police Officer Rumugi was newly deployed and needs the support of residents in the area to work effectively.
“I blame Paramount rulers. They are supposed to directly work with security agencies, instead of working in isolation. I would also like to state that the Divisional Police Officer was newly deployed to our area, and he is still trying to know the area. The bridge of information from these stakeholders actually played a role in what happened in Rumugi “ he stated.
Spokesman of the Civil Liberty Organization in Rivers State, Christopher Solomon has also appealed to the security agencies to step up efforts in protecting lives and properties in the state. He also urged the state government to give security agencies the necessary support to tackle insecurity.
“We call on the Rivers State Government, Rivers State Police Command and the Department of State Security Service DSS to step up their gain in providing adequate security for Rivers citizen” he stated.
